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China's ZTE has cut a funding deal with a Russian financier Icon Private Equity to build a 3.5 GHz WiMAX network for one of the operators it owns a chink of, Ukraine High Technologies. Network construction will break into three phases and phase one is already underway and will be built by the 4th quarter 2009. Services contemplated are mostly fixed access high-speed wireless broadband at present.

ZTE is midway through building out Ukraine's capital city Kiev and surrounding areas, installing 250 WiMAX base stations, 6,000 WiMAX terminals as well as core network upgrades.

ZTE has so far completed the core network changes and added some of the base stations, on subsequent phases UHT will expand network coverage to other regions of the country, and plans for its to be the largest Ukraine's WiMAX network. Icon is then expected to merge it with another network it is building in Russia to operate under the same brand.

"We are pleased to join our efforts with Icon Private Equity to establish its WiMAX network in Ukraine in order to meet the country's strong market demand," said Mr. Zhao Songpu, Chief Executive Officer of WiMAX Products, ZTE Corporation. "The partnership fully demonstrates our leading position in the WiMAX arena through closely collaborating with Icon PE to deliver innovative and tailor-made WiMAX technologies and products in Ukraine."

UHT was awarded a 3.5GHz WiMAX network license in 2006 to provide WiMAX service in Ukraine and has been planning services and looking for the funds to build it out ever since.

As of 1Q 2009, ZTE claims to have deployed 16 WiMAX networks in 26 countries, serving more than 40 operators worldwide and offers WiMAX base stations in the 2.5GHz and 3.5GHz range.

Telegeography reported that Icon in the past was talking about building this network, injecting around $80 million into Huawei equipment, so perhaps that deal turned sour or the early equipment wasn't up to scratch and ZTE is now picking up the reins.

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